11th November 20It’s felt like a very long week. Monday night saw me at a referees’ meeting in Leicester, followed by a PTA meeting on Tuesday, and then a governors’ meeting on Wednesday. Thursday night I trained the Colts, and on Friday I helped officiate at the Rugby Club’s Fireworks Display. Just for good measure,… Continue Reading

28th October 2007 At Willow Bank, we had Lucas to stay for the week while Mum and Dad jetted off for a well-earned break in Majorca. I’ve often thought about getting another dog, someone to walk with, play with, and offer unwavering loyalty. Lucas ticks all the same boxes, with the bonus that he doesn’t… Continue Reading

21st October 2007 This week, I came down with a stinker of a sore throat, almost certainly picked up while rummaging through mountains of dusty old school records. We’re required to keep some of them for ten years, though judging by the cobwebs, a few have been with us since the Norman Conquest. Jamie began… Continue Reading

14th October 2007 Undoubtedly, the week’s crowning glory was England beating France at rugby (those ever-dubious Gauls) in France, in the World Cup semi-finals. Even the England football team joined in the fun, dispatching Estonia 3–0. A rare week where both rugby and football got it right. Someone crack open the champagne! It was also… Continue Reading

7th October 2007 Sarah finally got back on her feet by Thursday and even made it into school, looking rather pale and wafer-thin. She was utterly exhausted by evening, but true to form, dragged herself in again on Friday. By the weekend, she seemed much improved, albeit with a healthy dose of teenage grumpiness (but… Continue Reading

30th September 2007 The only real family drama this week has been Sarah’s bout with a particularly stubborn sickness bug that refuses to take the hint and leave. It began with a headache and swiftly escalated into an Olympic-level vomiting routine; anything she ate or drank was immediately returned to sender. Despite two trips to… Continue Reading

23rd September 2007  Not much to report this week – a fairly quiet one for everyone – but here are the so-called ‘highlights’: I achieved a seven-ball finish at pool on Thursday night. Only my third in 54 years, so at this rate I’m due another in 2043, assuming I can still see the table… Continue Reading

16th September 2007 All things considered, we had another relatively quiet week. School has slipped into a predictable routine: 90% paperwork, 5% soothing petty grievances, and the remaining 5% spent doing something marginally worthwhile. If I ever find the time (or the will), I might start keeping a log of all the pointless meetings and… Continue Reading

11th September 2007 Monday saw me back at school. Nothing much to report, just the usual 7.00 am to 6.00 pm marathon of paperwork. I believe I single-handedly finished off the Brazilian Rainforest this week. No real highlights, unless you count the minor miracle of persuading the Educational Psychologist to actually turn up and see… Continue Reading

2nd September 2007  Well, we made it back from Thailand safely. We flew with EVA again, and the flight was excellent, great entertainment system, delicious food, and plenty of legroom. The downside is, of course, that we’re now back in a chilly UK! I had a slight mishap driving home from Heathrow, couldn’t quite remember… Continue Reading